tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
IJID Reg
. 2024 Sep 2:13:100439.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100439. eCollection 2024 Dec. Detection of COVID-19 incidence among attendees of the 2022 Hajj season
Thamir A Alandijany[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Fadi S Qashqari[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Mohammad Alfelali[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Sumyya H Hariri[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ahmed M Hassan[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Arwa A Faizo[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Yusuf M Khairo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Hanin A Qashqari[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Elaf M Bahareth[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Abdullah A Bajodah[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Abdullah F Saeedi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Raed M Garout[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP], Sherif A El-Kafrawy[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Esam I Azhar[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objectives: This study investigated the presence of COVID-19 cases among pilgrims, health care workers (HCWs), and non-HCWs of Hajj 2022.
Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 491 attendees of Hajj 2022. All participants received three doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Paired (n = 138; 69 participants) and unpaired (n = 422; 422 participants) nasopharyngeal swabs were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction targeting E gene of β-coronaviruses and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2. The results were linked to the participants' profiles, including role during Hajj, presence of respiratory symptoms or comorbidities, contact with symptomatic individuals, smoking status, and COVID-19 recovery.
Results: A total of 20 (20 of 560; 3.6%) samples tested positive for COVID-19. Most cases (18 of 20; 90%) were pilgrims and non-HCWs. Six (30%) samples belonged to participants with previous positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A total of 12 (60%) samples belonged to participants with respiratory symptoms. Three (15%) cases were linked to participants who had contact with individuals with respiratory symptoms. All cases belonged to individuals with no comorbidities, apart from a single case who has a chronic sinusitis. Five (25%) cases were smokers. No significant association was found between positive COVID-19 test and participants' profiles.
Conclusions: Few COVID-19 cases were detected in this study. Sustainable surveillance of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses during Hajj seasons remains necessary.
Keywords: COVID-19; Hajj; Mass gathering; SARS-CoV-2; Saudi Arabia.
. 2024 Sep 2:13:100439.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100439. eCollection 2024 Dec. Detection of COVID-19 incidence among attendees of the 2022 Hajj season
Thamir A Alandijany[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Fadi S Qashqari[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Mohammad Alfelali[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Sumyya H Hariri[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ahmed M Hassan[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Arwa A Faizo[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Yusuf M Khairo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Hanin A Qashqari[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Elaf M Bahareth[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Abdullah A Bajodah[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Abdullah F Saeedi[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Raed M Garout[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP], Sherif A El-Kafrawy[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Esam I Azhar[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39399129
- PMCID: PMC11470398
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100439
Objectives: This study investigated the presence of COVID-19 cases among pilgrims, health care workers (HCWs), and non-HCWs of Hajj 2022.
Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples were collected from 491 attendees of Hajj 2022. All participants received three doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Paired (n = 138; 69 participants) and unpaired (n = 422; 422 participants) nasopharyngeal swabs were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction targeting E gene of β-coronaviruses and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2. The results were linked to the participants' profiles, including role during Hajj, presence of respiratory symptoms or comorbidities, contact with symptomatic individuals, smoking status, and COVID-19 recovery.
Results: A total of 20 (20 of 560; 3.6%) samples tested positive for COVID-19. Most cases (18 of 20; 90%) were pilgrims and non-HCWs. Six (30%) samples belonged to participants with previous positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A total of 12 (60%) samples belonged to participants with respiratory symptoms. Three (15%) cases were linked to participants who had contact with individuals with respiratory symptoms. All cases belonged to individuals with no comorbidities, apart from a single case who has a chronic sinusitis. Five (25%) cases were smokers. No significant association was found between positive COVID-19 test and participants' profiles.
Conclusions: Few COVID-19 cases were detected in this study. Sustainable surveillance of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses during Hajj seasons remains necessary.
Keywords: COVID-19; Hajj; Mass gathering; SARS-CoV-2; Saudi Arabia.